PRESS RELEASE

1 July 2008

The Refusal by An Bord Pleanala to approve the Port of Cork Development Plan is a damning indictment of Government‘s lack of a cohesive policy on critical infrastructure, states the Irish Exporters Association

The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) has expressed its dismay at An Bord Pleanala’s decision of 25 June 2008, not to allow Cork Port to proceed with the proposed new Port development at Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy, stating the decision was a damning indictment of the Government’s lack of a cohesive policy on critical infrastructure.

Ger Downey, Chairman of the IEA Southern Region stated:

“The planned location of the development, far from adding to traffic congestion on the N28 route linking the area to the Cork Ring Road, would have facilitated Ireland’s major Pharmaceutical, Healthcare and high-end Food Product manufacture cluster at Ringaskiddy, giving quick and safe access to shipping services for imports of raw materials and exports of finished products. The IEA calls on the NRA to proceed with the upgrade of the N28 as a high priority”.

The Association expressed surprise that and An Bord Pleanala placed so much emphasis on the need for a Port development to be rail connected, given the effective abandonment of rail freight by Iarnrod Eireann and the Department of Transport.

The IEA has campaigned vigorously to have rail freight restored, particularly to the Ports of Dublin and Foynes and supports the recent statement by Minister Micheal Martin TD, highlighting the need for a return to rail as a means of transporting freight in order to reduce CO₂ emissions. Iarnrod Eireann has purchased, under Transport 21, a fleet of suitable rail wagons for the carriage of all container sizes, so that the Association sees no impediment to a rapid move of container traffic from road to rail. These new wagons are currently lying idle.

The IEA calls on the Port of Cork to move with the utmost speed to re-apply for planning permission that will meet the needs of exporters in the Munster region to operate in an efficient and competitive manner. The IEA also calls on the review body, set up to streamline critical infrastructure, to get involved, show they have real powers and progress the Port of Cork’s much needed Development Plan.

The IEA gave a reminder that more than 95% of manufactured exports leave Ireland by sea and as ship sizes grow, existing facilities at Cork will become quite inadequate for efficient shipping.

END

For further information contact:
John Whelan, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association
Tel: (01) 661 2182
Email: jfwhelan@irishexporters.ie

About the Irish Exporters Association (IEA)

The IEA represents the needs of export industry ensuring that the necessary conditions are created and the necessary support is provided to assist companies to maximise their export sales. The IEA draws its membership from every exporting sector, ensuring that the interests of all industries are represented and promoted at the highest level.

www.irishexporters.ie